- Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin evaluates best strategies for quantum resistance, emphasizing the need for rigorous work on efficient STARK protocols.
- Buterin has been creating quantum-resistant account abstracted wallet codes since 2017.
- Buterin suggests the blockchain industry ensure current decisions are forward-compatible with a quantum-resistant future.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin discusses quantum resistance strategies, emphasizing the importance of STARK protocols and forward compatibility in the blockchain industry.
Buterin Advocates for Quantum Resistance Strategies
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes the best strategies for quantum resistance all rely on recursive STARKs. In a recent post, Buterin emphasized the necessity of continued hard work on STARK protocols. He has been creating quantum-resistant account abstracted wallet codes since 2017. By creating efficient STARK protocols, Buterin suggests it’s possible for blockchain developers to essentially create ‘signature aggregation’ with the protocols. He also highlights that the most prudent action, given a ten to twenty-year timeline on quantum computing, is to begin immediate work on the fundamental infrastructure of recursive STARK protocols.
Buterin Responds to ChainSafe Co-founder Gregory Markou
In the meantime, Buterin references a protocol coded 4337 on Github, indicating its forward compatibility with quantum resistance in multiple ways. He notes the protocol’s merging feature is currently optional, but given the higher base overhead of hash-based signatures, it will become necessary. ChainSafe co-founder Gregory Markou had initiated a discussion about EIP-7702, a rival to the 3074 written by Buterin. Buterin’s post was in response to Markou, who addressed the significant obstacle of default 3074’s specific signing requirements. Markou did not accept the use of quantum computing as a counter-argument, stating many people repeatedly use it without proposing a future solution. Citing Nomad co-founder James Prestwich, Markou suggests that if quantum computing becomes a genuine concern rather than a political blocker, some drastic actions are needed now.
Conclusion
As the discussion around quantum resistance in the blockchain industry continues, the emphasis is on forward compatibility and the development of efficient STARK protocols. With quantum computing potentially becoming a significant concern in the future, industry leaders like Buterin are advocating for immediate action and strategic planning.
